Money laundering charges continued after high level action in British Columbia. RCMP Investigation

All criminal charges in a high-profile RCMP investigation into money laundering in British Columbia. have been suspended, but we do not know why.

The investigation, dubbed E-Pirate by the RCMP, was launched in 2015 as part of an alleged underground banking operation that would have allegedly processed money for alleged drug and would have financed the players in high stakes games in British Columbia. the casinos.

The five counts in the original indictment included the laundering of the proceeds of crime, the possession of property obtained by crime, the lack of registration of a money-services business and the failure to keep records of money laundering. proper records and report suspicious financial transactions.

The charges were brought against Silver International Investments Ltd., Caixuan Qin and Jain Jun Zhu in the fall of 2017.

Prosecutions suspended by prosecutors

The case was to be tried by a provincial court in Richmond in January 2019.

In a press release issued Wednesday morning, the RCMP confirmed that the Public Prosecution Service of Canada had suspended all charges last week.

"The charges have been suspended for a number of reasons that have materialized in the case, the nature of which will not be discussed in detail because of the operational sensitivity," wrote the RCMP sergeant. Marie Damian.

The RCMP revealed that the force was reviewing the file to understand "its activities that contributed to this stay", to incorporate the relevant lessons and to prevent this from happening. in the future.

In a written statement, Public Prosecution Service of Canada spokesperson Nathalie Houle said the charges did not meet her prosecution test, which states that there is a reasonable prospect of conviction. for evidence likely to be presented at trial and that it would best serve the public interest.

Matthew Nathanson, a lawyer for Silver International and one of the defendants declined comment.

The lawyer of the second person initially charged has not yet been reached for comment.

Significant amounts have been seized in the context of extensive investigations into money laundering in British Columbia. the casinos. (CBC)